In a world where keeping busy and treating lack of sleep like a badge of honour is a step away from being a religion, watching somebody spend a day lazing in the summer sun might fill a viewer with a sense of discomfort. Perhaps even abject dread. That might just be the point of Andrew Masseurs' new music video.
Days They Come, Days They Go seems like a gentle reminder to let go of worries. Masseurs wrote it for his daughters, who he says stresses about the smallest things. The song is probably not intended as a chilling reminder of the unstoppable passage of time and entropy hurtling us ever faster towards oblivion and the meaninglessness of everything that happens in between.
Andrew Masseurs has prior experience as lead singer in the New Zealand band Ammp, and is now branching out into his solo work, starting with his 2018 debut album Origins. His new single is from his sophomore effort, Traveller in the Sky, and sounds just in time for summer. It features Masseurs relaxing at the Wellington waterfront flanked by wine and a guitar. Shot in cinema widescreen and featuring cantering cuts between scenes of him hanging out, the editing style seems busy at first glance. On reflection though, it is necessary to create movement using the cuts since the camera is stationary and there is minimal movement on the part of the subject. Thinking of it this way the editing serves as a force of momentum for the video.
As he settles into his people watching chair, Masseurs' vocals come in crushed under an effect that makes it feel like he's broadcasting a pirate signal to get his message across to the people of the world. Muted bass notes with sweeping strums of guitar chords fill out the broad parts of the song. Later, in the chorus there is a catchy guitar hook as Masseurs repeats the main refrain. The drums have some great little fills that are really interesting and attention grabbing - popping out against the backdrop of the simpler barbecue rock of the guitar. Towards the end an organ fills out the space and makes for a really satisfying sustained chord to end the song on. The lyrics are simple and sparse, making it a perfect sing along for audiences right on the first listen.
Days They Come, Days They Go is the perfect song to learn the chords for on your summer holiday and jam out with your mates on the beach. For some it may also serve as a reminder to remove yourself from your existential terror and enjoy a moment for once. The accompanying video illustrates a guru like appreciation for the space between the noise of life. It's a welcome message at a time of year when we should be winding down but tend to get caught up in the stress of organizing our various rituals.
Andrew Masseurs is a solo musician from Wellington, New Zealand.
Andrew was lead singer for the New Zealand band Ammp. Creating an album From The Back of The Sun, with 9 singles and EP This Chaotic Symphony. Andrew was in the 2005 TV2 Play It Strange Documentary Songstar with Mathew Powell featuring their song All I Wanted. Ammp received NZ on Air grants for songs All I Wanted and Ironman and a NZ on Air rebate for Go for Radio Play. Ironman was part of the New Zealand Olympic Challenge official Play It Strange CD 2011. Ammp's song Go was synced in a Vodafone TV Advert and the song Don’t Leave Me Here was in the TV Series Go Girls. Ammp’s songs Let The Sunlight In, Sgt Mayhem and Rabid Creature made the semi finals of the International Songwriting Competition 2011, 2013.
Andrew has ventured out to create his own Pop/Rock tunes that are creative, adventurous and personal. Playing all instruments and also mixing his own tunes it is a journey of growth and learning. Andrews first solo album Origins was released in 2018. With 8 singles released to radio. Deep Sunrise from the album made the Semi Finals of the International Songwriting Competition 2018. Andrew has now released his follow up album Traveller in the Sky. Andrew's songs from the new album made the Semi Finals of The Unsigned Competition 2018 (Set Me Free) and the International Songwriting Competition 2018 (Everyone Wants To Be Your Love and Days They Come Days They Go). Some comments so far... "some of his best work yet" Jacquie Walters, Muzic.net.nz and " could easily be a household name before the end of 2019" Jussrussradio "With Origins, he proved his versatility as an artist, but with Set Me Free, he proved the heights of his talent" AnRFactory.